The exhibition, A River Runs Through it: Connecting Life in Indiana to the Waters around Us, will feature art that explores the vital need for stewardship, sustainability, awareness, and advocacy for Indiana's water. One of the exhibit's goals is to broaden participation by including people who do not have extensive art background but who would like to express themselves on environmental issues they feel passionately about. Submissions are open to Sierra Club members and non-members.

The deadline for submissions is August 1, 2015.

All exhibitors and Sierra Club members are invited to a reception at the Indiana Interchurch Center (1100 W. 42nd St., Indianapolis, IN) on Friday, September 18 at 6 PM.

Local Group News

Laura Garrett from Reach Healthy Communities, will talk about a coalition in Columbus to increase people’s daily physical activity by improving pedestrian access throughout the city. The coalition is focused on identifying and removing barriers to safe bicycle and pedestrian travel posed by high traffic street and highway crossings throughout the city. The coalition is also seeking to raise public awareness of the importance of designing and building the community in a way that promotes physical activity as part of daily routines.

Renewable: One Woman’s Search for Simplicity, Faithfulness, and Hope

Renewable: One Woman’s Search for Simplicity, Faithfulness, and Hope is the story of a spiritual writer and mother of two who, while trying to change the world, unexpectedly finds the courage to change her life. With wit and wisdom, Eileen Flanagan shares the engaging journey that brings her from midlife spiritual crisis to fulfillment and hope—and, briefly, to jail.

“Simple, beautiful, and nourishing, this book is a necessary reminder that the renewable energy we need most is people power.” —Bill McKibben

More than 24.1 million pounds of chemicals were sent into the Ohio in 2013, more than double the amount in the next-highest polluted waterway, the Mississippi River. Against this backdrop, an eight-state agency that monitors the river's water quality is weighing changes to rules meant to curb discharges of the potentially hazardous substance. Read the full story here.

Kicking the Coal Habit at IPL's Harding Street Station

If all goes according to schedule, the huge power plant on Indianapolis' Southside will burn its last load of coal next spring. The move represents a major victory for anti-coal activists, who call the plant a major polluter and health hazard. Read more about this victory at the Indy Star.

Hoosier Chapter initiates gift card program

We have a new fundraising option that we are now introducing: the Scrip program. This program is a way for you to buy gift cards online and a percentage of the sale goes to the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter. To learn more about the Scrip program visit this page.

All hands are on deck as the 2015 session of the Indiana General Assembly begins. Our priorities and concerns about the issues we face are detailed on our legislative page. We include a number of articles and commentaries pertinent to these issues. And a first for us: we have prepared a comprehensive scorecard of the 2013-2014 sessions of the General Assembly so you can see how your representatives and senators voted on our priorities in those sessions.

Wild Indiana Campaign needs your support

The Indiana Forest Alliance is proposing the establishment of thirteen Wild Areas across seven state

forests. In the ongoing fight against unprecedented levels of commercial logging in Indiana’s state forests, this proposal is a strong first step towards restoring a balanced state forest management policy.

Other Information of Interest to Members:

"Donor Opportunities" published by ChapterA summary of options for financial donors is now available for online review. The fact-sheet reviews various funds that prospective donors might consider in contributing to the work of Sierra Club in Indiana. Click the above link for more information.